Drac wrote:AFL has invested its money in expansion and media, the nRL keeps it in a piggy bank and beats its chest, proclaiming to the nation "look at how much money we didn't invest in growth!"
The AFL has invested... your right about that, but i wouldnt call some of those good investments (specially GWS). the giants will hemerage money out of the AFL for decades and for very little gain, all i can see from them in the future is only marginally better than where they are currently(and im talking about off the field not on it). during negoiations for the next TV deal, the giants will also be a negative stain on the AFL's credentials, i see that they will more likely lower the final price than increase it, thus further hemerageing from AFL pockets.
The NRL could of started a new franchiese in perth for the begining of the current tv deal and it would defineatly have boosted their price as GWS did for the AFL. when Gallop was CEO there were plans to do this, but when David smith took over as CEO he pushed it back. what i can say is Dave is doing a great job and i trust that his cautious and professional approach in regards to expansion is the right way and it should be commanded(Vlad perhaps should take a leaf out of his book too). The NRL pushed back expansion to WA probably because they wernt satisfied that there was enough community and corporate interest in the area. The NRL does not want to just rush the new franchiese in (like other codes have of recent coff coff).
Ignoring those just negates any extra money that would be made from the TV deal (with more teams admitted), as the extra funds as well as other money is wasted trying to keep the fledgling francheise afloat. (sounds alot like GWS doesnt it).
Now it appears to me that the major factor for the AFL with its latest expansion was solely to make the AFL worth more in TV deal negioations, but with no real look into if there was an actual demand for these teams. The problem with this is that without the adequate community and Corporate interest in these clubs expansion will only bring an inital financial benefit. inadequate demand for the francheises over the long term means that alot more money will need to be spent on these clubs than if there was adequate demand when founded.
GWS easily falls into this category. the club was founded for the areas population and more tv $$ but without the thought there was virtually no demand for them and miniscule community interest(no where near enough).
I dont know why your trying to rip on the NRL and Dave Smith on their cautious approach on expansion, maybe its because its upsetting seeing them do it right.
liar extraordinaire 
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